April 26, 1902.] *
the Colony had prospered and would continue to prosper no one could have the slightest doubt (Hear, hear.) Hongkong, some sixty years ago a bare rock with a mero handful of inhabi- tants, had now a Chinese population of over 200,000, whose numbers were steadily increasing. I myself, said Mr. Ho Tung, have lately contributed my share to this increase. (Hear. hear, and laughter.) Continning, he said that the Chinese community during the last twenty years had prospered so greatly that in some cases their shops and stores had superseded those of European firms. Not only had they advanced commercially, but in their social life they were evincing a desire for better things, one proof of which could be scen in the number of houses of European construction they were putting up. Farther- more, they had shown themselves fully alive to the advantages of the great area open to business by the reclamation scheme, for which all honour and credit were due to their respected fellow-citizen, the Hon. C. P. Chater. (Hear, hear.) The increase in the trade
and commerco of the Chinese, it must be understood, · was in no way lessened by the prosperity attending their Western friends; on the other hand, they had pros- pered side by side, and he trusted that such would always be the case. (Applause.) This joint prosperity spoke volumes for the success of British administration- (hear, hear)--and in that administration Mr. Lockhart had had a large share. His career had beon 'one of eminent usefulness to the Chinese com- munity in Hongkong, and, as Mr. Fung Wa Chun had justly said, from Mr. Lockhart's intimate knowledge of the language, literature, history, and customs of the Chinese, no wonder he had been called a perfect Chinaman. (Laughter.) His services for the Chinese com- munity in the Colony were of the highest order, and he would be missed very much. Weihai- woï's gain would be Hongkong's loss. Mr. Ho Tang concluded by again thanking those present for the great compliment they had paid
him.
Mr. WEI ON, who also responded on behalf of the Chinese community, spoke in a similar strain, and was followed by Mr. BREWIN, who proposed the health of Dr. Ho Kai. The latter responded in suitable terms, and the playing of the National Anthem brought an extremely enjoyable evening to a close..
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
MACAO AND THE PLAGUE. ·
A Government Gazette Extraordinary issued
on the 21st inst. announced that Macao had been declared an infected port.
A letter referring to this matter. from Sonhor Conselheiro A. G. Romano, Portuguese Consul-General, will be found below,
We may also state that we were shown the 1 test mort- ality returns to hand from Macao on the 21st, from which it appears that the 12 cases of plague this year bare all been in the dependencies of Macao, not in the town itself or its suburbs. Sr. Romano's letter runs as follows:-
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS." Portuguese Consulate-fieneral, Hongkong, 21st April. SIR.-I am requested by the Colonial Secretary of Macao, in the absence of His Excellency the Governor of Macao, to state that thoro have only been casos of plague in the Islands of Taipa and Coloranne, and that the Government have takon all the necessary
T
precautions against the disease spreading to Macao. He assures that there have been no cases of plagne in Macao during the last week, and only two cases of cholerine.-Yours, etc,
A. G. ROMANO, Consul-Goneral for Portugal.
CHOLERA VICTIMS IN CANTON.
Two more Europeans bavo fallen victims to cholera in Canton, Mr. Middleton, of Shewan. Tomes & Co., and Mr. S. M. da Cruz, book keeper for Messrs. Rowe & Smith. Canton. Mr. Middleton had only touched at Canton ou his way up country on business, and was taken ill shortly after leaving that place; he died in the Wesleyan Mission Hospital at Fatshan, where he was conveyed with all haste, and the body was taken back to Canton and buried. Mr. da Cruz, who was in Hongkong on a holiday recently. was well known in Canton, and had been long in the employ of Messrs.
Rowe & Smith,
SUICIDE OF MR. O. WEGENER,
Mr. Oscar Wegener, assistant manager of the firm of Lants, Wegener & Co., merchants, Prince's Buildings, committed suicide on Thurs- day morning under tragic circumstances. The Hop. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G., left deceased gentleman was staying with some others Hongkong on the 24th inst. on the Empress of at The Castle," Castle Road, the residebra of the German Consul for this port. For a long India to take up his new duties as Commis- sioner of Weihhiwei. A very large company of time past he had been complaining of bad Europeans, Chinese, and Parsees assembled at health both to his friends here and by letter to Blake Pier to see Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart off, those at home, but no one, beyond manifesting a friendly interest in his welfare, seemed to among those present being Commodore Robin-
to thest son, Hon. A. W. Brewin, Hon. W. Chatham, attach any particnlar importinge Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Hon. A. G. Wise, Messrs complaints, nor did they dream for a momon Rutter, Mody, E. C. Lewis, A. G. Remang, J.
of the shocking sequel that was to attend them. Leiria, R. F. Johnston, C. Clementi, E. R. Mr. Wegen r, who appeared in his usual state betrayed no Hal ifax, C. Ford, C. Mcl, Messer, E. D. C. of health and whose manner Wolfe, Dr. Atkinson, Dr. Thomsen. Messrs. marked peculiarity, dined with a party of H.H J. Gompertz, Fung Wa Chun, lo Fook, friends on Wednesday evening, and arrived home He conversed for a Sin Tak Fan, W. Poalo, C. S. Sharp, A. G. about half-past eleven. Stokes, E. Gumpert, H. P. White. Major Beres. short time with his friends in the house on ford-Ash, Messrs. G. J. W. King, W. H. ordinary topies, and retired to bed. In the boy" brought the usual cup of Potts, and F. B. L. Bowley. As Mr. and Mrs. morning his Lockhart left Blake Pier for the steamer there tea to his mas er, who got up shortly before was a great outburst of cracker firing. The eight o'clock and had his bath, afterwards going to his room to dress for business. Shortly after enthusiastic nature of the "God-speed" which the late Colonial Secretary received was indica-eight o'clock a sudden loud report was heard, tive of the very high respect and es'cem he has and on the deceased's room being entered: e was found lying on the floor, quite dead, his head in won during his long stay in the Colony.
a pool of blood and a bullet wound in his right temple. The unhappy man's friends at once sent for the police, who, on arrival, searched the bedy, which was partly dressed, and found in one of the pockets a note written in German explaining that, with his health completely shattered, the deceased had no desire to live longer. For a man on the verge of committing Wegener must such a madly rash act Mr have acted with considerable coolness and deliberation, for, besides the Lote already spoken of, he had addressed an envelope to his boy," i side which was a sum of $60 a dying gift that was duly handed over by the police to the person designated. The revolver with which the deed was committed lay near the body. It had been loaded in two chambers only, and one of these was discharged. | Au examination of the weapon showed that the
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THE HEALTH OF HONGKONGU.
During the two days ending at noon on the 21st inst. three fresh cases of plague were reported in the Colony, two of the victims being Chinese at 143, Station St., Yaumati, and 9, Belch rs' Lane East respectively, while the third (whose nationality is not specified in the return) was at 108, Wanchai Road. With two additional cases, the total for this year is now 20.
The cases of communicable disease in the Colony last week were :-Plagne, 7 (6 Chinese, (ne Portuguese, all in Victoria), with 6 deaths; cholera 24 (Chinese, 20 in Victoria), with 21 deaths; enteric fever, one fatal Chinese case puerperal fever, one fatal Chinese case; small Fox, 4 (all Chinese in Victoris), with 2 deaths.
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deceased was fully determined to take his life, for the trigger was so stiff that one of the police officers had to use both hands to pull it back when the remaining cartridge had been withdrawn. The body was sent to the public mortuary, whence it was conveyed to Happy Valley yesterday for interment. Mr. Wegener who had been in Hongkong for twenty years was about 44 years of age, a native of Germany, and unmarried.
HONGKONG IN 1901.
SANITARY BOARD ANNUAL REPORT.
The annual report on sanitary affairs in. Hongkong has just been issued, comprising the reports of the Medical Officer of Health, the Sanitary Surveyor, and the Colonial Veterinary
urgeon, for the year 1901.
BUILDINGS.
The domestic buildings of the City of Victoria, says the report of the Medical Officer, number 9,046 (exclusive of Barracks and Police
Stations) of which 872 are non-Chinese dwell- ings, while there are also some 130 European dwellings in the Hill District. This shows an increase of 134 non-Chinese dwellings as compared with the previous year, and an increase of 312 Chinese dwellings. The plans of 1,369 new buildings and of alterations to 1,497 existing buildings were dealt with during the year. The number of new houses completed during the year was 796.
CIMATE.
The average monthly temperature throughout the year has been 72.1 degree F. as compared with 71.6 degree F. during 1900; the maximum monthly temperature was attained in July when it reached 82.2 degree F. and the minimum monthly temperature was recorded in the month of February, being 54.8 degree F. The highest recorded temperature during the year was 92.7 degree F. on August 3rd and the lowest was 38.4 degree F. on February 4th. The total rainfall for the year was 55.78 inches as compared with 73.73 inches in 1900 and an average of 77.2 inches during the past ten years, The wettest month was May with 14.10 inches, while there were also 14 inches of rain in the month of August: the driest month was January with only .685 inch. The greatest amont of rain which fell on any one day was 4,23 inches on April 7th, while no rain fell on 213 days of the year; the relative humidity of the atmosphere throughout the year was 75 per cent. as compared with 77 per cent, in the pre- vious year. The average daily amount of sun- shine throughout the year was 55 hours and on 35 days only was no sunshine recorded.
GENERAL SANITARY CONDITION.
The Colony was again visited during the year by an epidemic of bubonic plague and in con sequence it was decided to obtain from England the service of two experts in sanitation to report on its general sanitary condition. Pro- fessor Simpson and Mr. Osbert Chadwick were appointed. During the year the various exist- ing Public Health Ordinances were consoli- dated, with but verbal amendments; with a view to prevent the raising of existing buildings to an inordinate height a short Ordinance was passed, this being an attempt to check sny further increuse in the excessive surface crowd- ing of the City, but it yet remains for some measure to be introduced which shall reduce this surface crowding to more reasonable limits. The question of the esumption of insanitary or obstructive buildings has been left in abeyance penling the report of the experts, but it is essential that many of these buildings should be removed in order to open up, and admit light and air to, the many enclosed courts and alleys which abound in the City of Victorir.
POPULATION.
The population of the Colony at the census taken in January, 1901, was (exclusive of the New Territories) 283,975. This represente an increase of 35,195 within a period of four years and affords a remarkable proof of the rapid progress of the Colony. The increase is, of course, very largely Chiness and is to be found mainly in Kowloon, where the population has risen from 26,442 to 42,976, and in the City of Victoria, where it has risen from 16,273 to . 175, 56. The increase in the non-Chinese civil population during the four years amounts to. 951. The following is the estimated popila- tion to the middle of 1901 :-Non-Chinese civil,